WORLD OF THE BEASTS

Chapter 013 WORLD OF THE BEASTS

Not far ahead, giant hills stood proudly as a natural fortress for the settlement behind it. Several young men stood proudly on the peaks, watching the surroundings.

''They are the village guards,'' said Halvir, pointing to several people who appeared to be standing on a cliff, ''Behind them, there is the village where I live.''

''Village?!'' shouted Anindira with sparkling eyes, ''There are many people?''

''Um,'' answered Halvir briefly, nodding.

''Kak Halvir, put me down!'' asked Anindira, patting Halvir's shoulder, ''I'll walk by myself...''

''NO!'' answered Halvir firmly.

''Kak Halvir...'' whined Anindira calling Halvir.

''You've traveled far. You're tired, Anindira!'' Halvir exclaimed firmly, ignoring the sulking Anindira, ''I'll take you to see Hans first.''

Anindira could only grumble, with a furrowed brow, she gave up and couldn't argue with Halvir.

Anindira's grumbling face looked adorable in Halvir's eyes, who was happy to see his woman still healthy and cheerful even though she was exhausted after a journey that took months.

*****

A few moments later they both entered the village gate.

The guards greeted Halvir in a friendly and respectful manner. They looked at Halvir and then a moment later glanced at each other. They were curious but no one approached or asked to find out.

Halvir bringing a woman with him was not something new here. But what confused them was Anindira's relaxed attitude and cheerful smile.

''Anindira, stop smiling at them!''

''Ha?!'' Anindira shrieked, confused by Halvir's warning, ''I was just returning their greetings...''

''They greeted me, not you!''

''Then, I'm the one greeting them...''

''Stop, you're misunderstanding them!''

''Just a greeting. What could be a misunderstanding?!''

Anindira continued to respond to Halvir's words, disguising her jealousy with a sincere warning for Anindira to be careful because the misunderstanding of Anindira's trivial actions was true. Although, who would dare, even if it was a misunderstanding, if her main guardian was Halvir, a *Sapphire.

*****

''Is it still far?''

''What?''

''The village...''

''We've been entering it since earlier.''

''Hah! Then where are the people?''

''Some are at home, some have gone out to do their respective tasks.''

''I haven't seen any houses since earlier...''

''We've also passed several earlier...''

''Huh, where?!'' Anindira replied while looking here and there, ''I don't see them...''

''Where are you looking?'' Halvir asked in surprise in the direction of Anindira's gaze, ''Upstairs!''

''Ha?!'' Anindira shrieked as she immediately looked up, looking seriously until she squinted.

''It will be difficult for you to see it, we built the house high up.''

''No matter how I look, I don't see any buildings in the trees. Actually, at what height did you build the house?!''

''Thirty meters at the lowest.''

''Thirty?! I should have been able to see it...''

''It doesn't mean that every tree you see has a house there, Anindira. Think about our privacy too!''

Again, there was a word that Anindira didn't understand. It was clearly visible in the questioning expression on her face.

Halvir was shocked to see the expression of not understanding and curiosity mixed with irritation because she felt that Halvir was playing with her.

''We arrived at one of the houses,'' said Halvir, standing in front of a giant tree.

Halvir's words made the curious Anindira immediately look up, looking for the building that had been disturbing her curiosity.

''HANS!'' called Halvir while looking up, ''Can I go up?'' asked Halvir, asking for permission.

''Kak Halvir, can he hear it?'' asked Anindira with a surprised face.

Anindira felt confused, the distance was about fifty meters, but he called in a normal voice.

''Um,'' Halvir answered, nodding casually, ''Our hearing is sharp, but he...'' said Halvir while making a gesture as if he was pointing with his eyes, ''His hearing is far above average.''

''Let's go up, he's already answered...'' said Halvir, informing.

''Hans, I'm coming in...''

Halvir asked permission again when he arrived at the front door of the house.

Anindira was amazed by the house that looked sturdy, made of wooden planks. She knew that one of the tribes in her country also built houses at a height of tens of meters. But, except for seeing it on television, she had never seen it in person. Now, she was entering one of the buildings that was at a height of more than fifty meters.

''Yes,'' answered the owner of the house, briefly inviting his guest to enter.

Halvir put Anindira down after they entered the house. But before that, Halvir once again asked Hans' permission so that Anindira could sit on the bed.

Hans nodded in response to Halvir, giving him permission.

''Who?'' Hans asked kindly.

''Anindira,'' Halvir answered flatly.

''Where?'' Hans asked again, ''I've never seen her.''

''I found her,'' Halvir answered briefly.

''Hm,'' Hans raised his eyebrows with a smile, ''You saved a woman again?!''

''Um,'' Halvir answered briefly with his usual indifferent face.

''Again?'' Anindira asked in her heart.

There was an uncomfortable sensation in her heart but Anindira tried to ignore it. She didn't realize that what had pinched her heart just now was a feeling of jealousy.

''Where?'' Hans asked as he approached Anindira to check on her condition.

''In the *FORBIDDEN FOREST,'' Halvir answered casually.

Hans' eyes widened, he immediately glanced at Halvir while showing an expression of disbelief.

''At the border of the *FORBIDDEN FOREST...''

Halvir clarified his words, answering the question of Hans' expression.

''Halvir, do you know how to joke now?!''

Hans still couldn't believe it even though he knew that Halvir wasn't lying, but it was still hard for him to just accept it.

''Are you sure your ears aren't having problems?!''

Halvir replied to Hans' sarcasm casually.

''But... the Forbidden Forest is very dangerous! Even for men, how could there be women there?!''

''But I found Anindira there. Not inside, but on the border... she almost entered it.''

''Really?!''

''Um,'' Halvir nodded flatly.

*****

FORBIDDEN FOREST.

A forest that can only be entered by those who are strong. The lowest of the *Emerald class, even that often ends in death.

Many men died after entering it.

Inside there are ferocious monsters that somehow never cross the border between the world of the 'forbidden forest' and the world of the 'ordinary forest' which are separate even though they look side by side.

The monsters of the Forbidden Forest cannot get out and enter the Ordinary Forest. However, the Beastmen can freely enter it. However, getting out and returning to the Ordinary Forest is the hardest part once they have entered the Forbidden Forest.

The *Beastmen consist of several ranks that indicate their strength.

The ranks are identified by the color of their eyeballs.

Those who are born without natural/special talents have various eyeball colors but look like ordinary human eyeballs. While those who have risen in rank/changed levels will have eyes that sparkle beautifully like polished gemstones.

Starting from the lowest level;

*Gold: eyeballs are golden

*Diamond: eyeballs are clear crystal

*Emerald: eyeballs are green

*Amethyst: eyeballs are purple

*Sapphire: eyeballs are blue

*Ruby: eyeballs are red

The *Sapphire rank is known as the highest level, although there is Ruby. But because it has hardly been seen for centuries, it is currently a *Sapphire that is recognized in various regions.

Not only that, the density of the color itself indicates the stability of the strength that has been achieved. The denser and darker the color, means that they have just leveled up. Conversely, the brighter and clearer the color of the eyeball means that the strength is more stable and ready to enter the next level. Except for the *Sapphire rank.

Most Beastmen, on average, can only reach the *Emerald rank. Those who have entered the *Emerald rank will find it very difficult to advance to the next level.

There is another way that is commonly used, which is the FORBIDDEN FOREST. But, it is very dangerous, besides, because the sudden level-up jump will be very dangerous if they do not immediately receive proper treatment.

The monsters there are also one of the many risks and consequences of level-up.

The monsters in the FORBIDDEN FOREST are very dangerous. They are strong, fast, fierce, and big. Those who enter the FORBIDDEN FOREST are ready to die. Either eaten by the FORBIDDEN FOREST MONSTERS or defeated by them. But, when the time comes, they MUST BE READY to face the consequences of the level-up jump ALONE. Without treatment and help.

Because of all that, it is said that those who have successfully returned from the FORBIDDEN FOREST are the BEST OF THE BEST.

Even so, it is not certain that they can immediately level up in the FORBIDDEN FOREST, because only very few of those who can survive the FORBIDDEN FOREST can immediately enter the next rank. FORBIDDEN FOREST not only to increase in rank, but they also need FORBIDDEN FOREST to survive in the very harsh and fierce WORLD OF BEASTS.

There are other benefits from entering the Forbidden Forest and conquering monsters. Namely, the heart of the monster. The defeated ones will be elixirted into an *Amber.

The most common is *Golden Amber. *Small Amber that can be used to increase energy. *Amber is usually golden yellow in color. The sharper and brighter the color, the better the quality, and the higher the level of the monster that is successfully defeated, the better the quality of the *Amber.

The second is, *Green Amber. A very rare *Amber, this amber is used to maintain age regeneration that can last up to thirty years once you eat it. But after the thirty-year period is reached, there must be a minimum gap of three years until you eat the next *Green Amber.

And finally, the third is, *Red Amber, *Amber, which can be used to neutralize all types of poison.

Both *Green Amber and *Red Amber, both types of Amber are only owned by the highest level monsters, which are, of course, very difficult to obtain.

Halvir is a *Sapphire. A rare rank because it is difficult to achieve. In the Blue Forest Village, only Halvir is ranked *Sapphire. There are six Clan Elders, one of whom is from the same Clan as Halvir, the Jaguar Clan. In the village, there are only seven people who have reached the *Amethyst rank. One rank below *Sapphire. They are the six Clan Elders and one more person who is a partner of one of the Clan Elders.

One *Sapphire and seven *Amethyst, the eight of them are highly respected. Not only because of their strength, but also by their wisdom. Halvir is stronger than the elders. Even so, he respects the leadership of the elders. But he does not submit to them.

***

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Info, the houses in the Blue Forest Village are inspired by the houses of the KOROWAI TRIBE in PAPUA.